PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1340, 18 January 1912, Page 6

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(Trom Our Bnecial CorrasDonaenttJ .—*_ ' FEILDING. .Mr. T. Hugo, Government Inspector of Fire Brigades, paid an official visit to Feilding. this week, and spent somo time with tho members of the brigade in testing tho pressure of watjr at various parts of tho borough, both at the lire plugs and nt the ends of different lengths of hose. On Tuesday morning -Mr Konaync, General Manager of the New Zealand Rail-' ways, with staff, visited Feilding on the annual inspection of rho line. While here they were waited upon by Mcisrs. X. Gorton and Swainson on behalf of stockowners, and a request was made for better trucking facilities. Mr. Konayne promised to give the matter his consideration. SHANNON. Messrs. Schmidt and Saunders' sawmill was destroyed by ftro on. Tuesday afternoon. The lire started shortly after 2 o'clock and, as there was a strong brcezo blowing, the building was quickly gutted. A considerable amount of timber was also destroyed. The insurance is stated to he ■£200 in tho Commercial Union Assurance Company. OTAKI, The ."cheese fever" seems to have caught this district. Only recently an up-to-date factory was built at Manakau, another is soon to be under way at Ohau, while farmers of Otaki are again seriously considering a similar project. In the last-mentioned instance it is understood that the service of a large number of cows has been offered, and it is. therefore expected that tho proposal will take shape.' ; A start has been made with the construction of water-races on the Gear Estate, Mr. Joseph Hockiug being the contractor, and the amount being .£2iS 13s. One settler in that locality has had tho assistance of tho Kov. Mr. Mason, tho well-known water-finder, and it is stated that a good spring has been struck. Others are also contemplating securing Mr. Mason's services. . It is stated here that the management of the Bank of Australasia intends to er.ect an up-to-date two-story building on recently-acquired land in the vicinity of the railway. Shearing in this district, is practically finished, but the shearing timo was not without its drawbacks. Operations were suspended on several occasions on account of broken weather. Mr. Byron Brown and family, together with Mr. and Mrs. C. M'Gill (Wellington), intend to go into camp at Paraparaumu for several weeks. . Mr. J. Eobertson, M.P.. and Mrs. Robertson are still in the locality, the former recuperating after his vigorous but successful campaign. Several visitors from Wairarapa arid elsewhere have also been indulging in surf-bathing, fishing, etc., on various parts of this coast. A valuable horse, belonging to Messrs. Satherley Bros., of To Horo, has been badly gored by a bull. ' A meeting of the Druids' Athletic.Club was held on Tuesday night, when it was decided to hold the annual sports' gathering on Easter Monday. It was reported that there was a credit balance in hau,d of ,£l3 12s. The following were elected officers:—Patron, Mr. J. Noble, sen.; president, Mr. E. Allen; handicapper and secretary, Mr. Mark Ayre; starter, Mr. George Gordon. Tho committee of tho Town Board movement met on Tnesday evening, and reports wore favourable. A public meeting will bo held during the week, and a definite plan of action discussed. A gymkhana is to be held in connection with the local Anglican Church next month.